Kane expressed disappointment regarding his evaluation at former club Tottenham Hotspur, emphasizing that he is now "truly respected."

Kane noted that on the 22nd (Korea time) at a press conference before the 2026 North and Central America World Cup European qualifying Group K match against Albania held at Wembley Stadium in London, England, "I scored many goals during my Tottenham days, but I never felt acknowledged like I do now. It feels like I am finally recognized for my true worth since coming to Bayern."

Kane, who has been associated with Tottenham since his youth, spent almost his entire career at the North London club. However, in the summer of 2023, he transferred to the renowned Bundesliga club Bayern Munich to challenge for a trophy on a bigger stage. At that time, this choice was interpreted as a bold decision to shed the label of 'trophyless DNA.'

He added, "At Tottenham, no matter how outstanding a season I had, I was not recognized because there were no trophies. Even scoring 40 goals, it was difficult to make it into the top 10 of the Ballon d'Or."

"TNT Sports" analyzed that Kane's remarks show the environment in which a club like Tottenham struggles to have individual performances evaluated on a global stage.

In fact, despite holding the Premier League top scorer title and the all-time highest scoring record in the club's history, Kane had no connection to team victories or individual awards like the Ballon d'Or.

Meanwhile, Heung-Min Son, who joined Tottenham in 2015, has signed several contract renewals and extended his existing contract, which was until 2025, to the summer of 2026 last January, demonstrating his loyalty to the team. He has become a symbolic figure at Tottenham and currently wears the captain's armband. Son has made a different choice than Kane.

Kane, after leaving Tottenham, reacted positively about adapting to the German stage, stating, "At a club like Bayern, it's expected to score 30 to 40 goals every season. While it carries weight, it is also a stimulus that helps me grow to the next level."

He showcased his stunning scoring ability from the first season, scoring more than 40 goals and successfully winning the European Golden Shoe. However, the team failed to achieve victory in major tournaments such as the Bundesliga, Champions League, and DFB-Pokal, finishing the season without trophies. It had been 12 years since Bayern ended a season without a trophy.

In this regard, Kane said, "Last season, without a trophy, it was inevitable that individual awards would be out of reach. The Ballon d'Or is impossible without team success." Some joked that "Kane's trophyless jinx has followed him to Munich."

This season, Bayern is holding onto the league lead, with only 8 matches remaining. Kane expressed confidence, stating, "If the conditions of winning and scoring 40 goals are met, this time the Ballon d'Or could really become a reality."

He also mentioned another reason related to "perception of age." "Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo scored 50 goals every year, and when they score only 40, they are evaluated as 'underperforming.' If I were still in my mid-20s, I would have received more attention," he said, adding, "I still believe I am maintaining my best performance."

Kane started in the UEFA Nations League quarter-final first leg against Albania held on the 22nd at 4:45 a.m., contributing to England's 2-0 victory. He calmly finished Rice's pass in the 33rd minute of the second half, taking responsibility for the team's second goal.

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